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HONIARA, Solomon Islands (Solomon Star, June 2, 2009) Â International constitutional lawyer and former Solomon Islands attorney general Julian Moti is challenging statutory rape charges now being heard in the Australian judicial system as trumped-up and politically motivated.

Moti has applied for a permanent stay of proceedingsÂthat is, to have the charges dismissed prior to trialÂon the grounds that his indictment is an abuse of judicial process.

In documents tendered to the Queensland Supreme Court, MotiÂs counsel has explained that the charges were driven by the Australian governmentÂs "policy objectives in Solomon Islands and the region generally".

The origins of the case lie in the former Howard governmentÂs military-police intervention into the Solomons in 2003, which has been continued by the Rudd Labor government since it came to office in November 2007.

HONIARA, Solomon Islands (Solomon Star, June 2, 2009) Â Exploring the spirit, life and challenges of contemporary Pacific people is what the Pacific Storms Exhibition is all about.

From June 3 to July 12, about 30 artists from around the Pacific including Fiji, Papua New Guinea, French Polynesia, Vanuatu, Solomon Islands, Tonga, New Caledonia, Rotuma and artists based in New Zealand and Australia will showcase their work at Bundaberg Regional Art Gallery in Australia in an effort to draw away from mainstream stereotypes of what Pacific art is and who its people are.

Setting a platform of contemporary creativity integrating real issues of the modern Pacific society, Pacific Storms will exhibit 50 artworks by leading Pacific artists.

HONIARA, Solomon Islands (Solomon Star, June 2, 2009) Â Fourteen people were saved from almost certain drowning last Friday when the RAMSI police boat, the Jackpot and its crew mounted a rapid and impromptu rescue after coming across one of the survivors just before nightfall struggling in high seas about two miles from Savo.

The Captain of the Jackpot, John van der Lem, said he sounded the alarm just before 6pm last Friday when the Jackpot discovered a youth, attempting to swim to the island in order to get help for the rest of the 13 passengers that had already been spread out across a vast distance by big waves and a strong wind.

All 14 passengers from the over-laden banana boat, which capsized in high seas mid afternoon after leaving Honiara around noon were eventually rescued.

"It was touch and go as to whether we would find them as the light was fading fast.

APIA, Samoa (Talamua, May 29, 2009) - Nine MPs who have recently formed themselves into the Tautua Party have been disqualified and will face by-elections. The decision by Samoas Speaker of Parliament, Tolofuaivalelei Falemoe was delivered as the budget session came to a close this morning. The MPs include interim Chairman, Lealailepule Rimoni Aiafi, former Ministers Palusalue Faapo and Vaai Papu Vaai, Levaopolo Talatonu Afoa, Taua Faraimo, Motuopuaa Vaai, Mulipola Oliva, Aeau Peniamina and Toluono Feti.

The speaker said the MPs have broken the law by changing from the parties that they were sworn in when they entered the current parliament. In their submissions made to the Speaker earlier this year, the MPs said they have formed an unregistered political party called Tautua Party in preparation for the next general elections.

WELLINGTON, New Zealand (Radio New Zealand International, June 1, 2009) Â The president of the Pacific Island News Association says heÂll speak out about FijiÂs crack-down on media freedom when he attends an international media conference there next month.

The Asia-Pacific Institute for Broadcasting Development will meet in Nadi at the invitation of FijiÂs interim government.

Joseph Ealedona says itÂs better to use an opportunity like this than stay away in protest.

"Media organisations should have meetings there, we shouldnÂt run away from the problem. I think its good AIBD is having a meeting there. It is there that we will raise our concerns to the interim regime on the ground. ItÂs not good staying outside and criticising."

As head of Papua New GuineaÂs National Broadcasting Corporation Joseph Ealedona can attend the conference while media restrictions may prevent FijiÂs broadcasters being...

PORT MORESBY, Papua New Guinea (The National, June 1, 2009) Â Australian businesses in Papua New Guinea have been urged to value media freedom both the governments of PNG and Australia have to offer.

The advice came from veteran PNG commentator and former ABC correspondent in PNG, Sean Dorney.

"IÂve got a very simple message for those attending this PNG-Australia Business Forum Â value the freedom that your media here in Papua New Guinea and in Australia work under," Mr. Dorney said in his after dinner speech at the PNG-Australia Business Council in Madang early this week.

Such freedom, Dorney said, was vital for democracy.

"I would like to compliment Papua New Guinea and successive PNG Governments for allowing this country to enjoy the benefits of a free and vibrant media.

"It is vital for democracy and, I believe, it is important not only for the economic health of PNG but also as an aid to...

KOROR, Palau (Palau Horizon, June 1, 2009) Â The Senate on third and final reading approved the proposed measure which will provide tax incentives for employees hiring and retaining citizen employees in certain skilled professions.

The measure said that tax incentives can be given to establishments that will hire Palauans.

The aim of Senate Bill 8-23 is to encourage companies to hire Palauans since there are many jobs requiring specialized skills being filled with non-citizens, in part because training and retaining Palauan workers may be more expensive than hiring ready-trained foreign labor.

The tax incentive will provide additional incentives for Palauans to learn skills necessary for various jobs, by bolstering their employment opportunities at the end of the training , "Eligible Employer" means an individual or a corporation engaged in a business, employing one or...

PORT MORESBY, Papua New Guinea (PNG Post-Courier, June 1, 2009) Â A child was among 15 people that were killed in one of the nastiest road accidents in Papua New Guinea on the weekend.

The injured were admitted to the Port Moresby General HospitalÂs intensive care unit and they were fighting for their lives after two PMV trucks they were travelling on collided on the Hiritano Highway on Saturday.

Kei Turia is one of the survivors and the 20-year-old was a crew member on the PMV going from Port Moresby to Iokea that collided with another PMV coming in from Malalaua near Babango village outside Bereina station.

Turia was lying in bed, warpped in bandages from head to toe. His eyes were closed and he was clearly still in a state of shock.

When he spoke, it was a struggle. He said the last thing he remembered was the driver complaining about the potholes at a sharp turn and trying to avoid them by crossing...

Pacific Islands Report is a nonprofit news publication of the Pacific Islands Development Program at the East-West Center in Honolulu, Hawai‘i. Offered as a free service to readers, PIR provides an edited digest of news, commentary and analysis from across the Pacific Islands region, Monday - Friday.